Happy Monday! I don’t know who needs to hear this right now, but if your classroom feels slightly unhinged lately… it’s not just you. We’ve officially entered the end of year chaos, although I'm sure some of you are on summer vacay... students forgetting how chairs work behavior routines disappearing overnight missing assignments magically appearing at the worst possible time and approximately 900 things that somehow “need to be finished before summer” Middle school special education in...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Hey there, Let’s talk about progress monitoring for a second. Not the ideal, color-coded, perfectly-organized version… I mean the real version:– Sticky notes you swear you’ll enter later– Data sheets you can’t find when you actually need them– Trying to remember if you collected anything for that one goal last week 👀 Somehow, something that sounds simple turns into one more overwhelming thing on your plate. Here’s the truth no one really says out loud: Progress monitoring isn’t hard because...
4 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, Let’s talk about IEP meetings. You know the feeling, the calendar reminder pops up and suddenly you’re questioning every data point you’ve ever collected. Did I update that goal?Where is that progress monitoring sheet?Why do I have 47 sticky notes but zero organization? It doesn’t have to be like that. I just published a new blog post that walks you step-by-step through how to prepare for an IEP meeting without the last-minute scramble (or the internal panic while flipping through...
5 months ago • 1 min read
Good morning! Currently sitting here sipping coffee and enjoying my snow day! How many of you also are home today? ❄️ Middle school behavior + Special Ed can feel like the Wild West some days. One minute everything’s fine… the next someone’s melting down over a broken pencil and you’re questioning all your life choices. The good news? You don’t need a fancy system or 47 behavior charts. I just shared 5 behavior strategies that ACTUALLY work in middle school Special Ed, the kind that are...
6 months ago • 1 min read
Good morning! Have you ever walked into your prep period fully determined to get things done… only to spend the whole 45 minutes answering “quick” emails, tracking down a lost fidget, and redirecting a student who mysteriously reappeared for a hoodie? And then the bell rings.Prep over.Nothing checked off your list. In Special Education, time isn’t money it’s sanity. And January is already hard enough without feeling like your prep periods are disappearing into thin air. That’s why I wrote a...
6 months ago • 1 min read
Hi there, We all know the truth: You can have the best co-planned lessons, the most detailed modifications, and the coolest anchor charts—but if the vibe in your inclusion classroom is off, nothing else works. Students with diverse learning needs thrive when the classroom culture is built on trust, respect, and high expectations. When they feel safe, the learning flows! This week, we're diving into the easy, actionable strategies you can use today to build that positive environment in your...
10 months ago • 1 min read
We love co-teaching. Two brains, two perspectives, double the potential for magic! But let’s be honest: co-teaching often means two teachers trying to fit double the supplies into the same square footage. If your classroom feels like a beautiful, inspiring, but ultimately unlabeled disaster zone, you know the drill: The 45-second frantic search for the one stapler while 30 students wait. The mystery of whose lesson plan folder is whose (it’s always the blue one). The existential dread of...
10 months ago • 1 min read
Start strong, without losing your mind (or your coffee) Back-to-school season is here, and if you’re anything like me, your brain is somewhere between labeling folders and stress-sweating over IEPs you haven’t seen yet. 😅 Whether you're teaching middle school, special ed, or living that delightful combo, this is NOT the time for complicated systems and Pinterest-perfect bulletin boards. This is the time for easy wins. I rounded up my favorite sanity-saving tools to kick off the year, think...
12 months ago • 1 min read
Good morning! How is this summer passing so quickly? I feel like just yesterday we were at a fourth of July parade! Anyways, this week my blog post is giving you tips to recharge this summer. There is nothing groundbreaking there, but some great tips to remind you to take care of yourself so that you can go back to school refreshed in the fall. (Or summer for you guys outside of the northeast) Summer Self-Care Ideas for Special Education Teachers I am still reading The JFK Conspiracy by Brad...
about 1 year ago • 1 min read
